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Frontier Health, a leading provider of behavioral health services, is thrilled to announce its recent achievement in securing a Primary Prevention Grant amounting to $1,369,047 from the Tennessee Opioid Abatement Council. This prestigious grant marks a significant milestone in the organization’s ongoing commitment to combating the opioid crisis within the Northeast Tennessee community.

The Tennessee Opioid Abatement Council, established by the Tennessee General Assembly under Public Chapter 491, is tasked with the vital role of managing the distribution of funds acquired through legal settlements with opioid producers, distributors, pharmacies, and marketers. These funds are a direct result of the diligent efforts of the Tennessee Attorney General’s office to hold accountable those responsible for the opioid epidemic.

The awarded grant will bolster Frontier Health’s Youth Drug Prevention Project over the next three years, providing essential resources to enhance its impact across the Northeast Tennessee region. This initiative is at the forefront of Frontier Health’s efforts to mitigate the adverse effects of drug use among the youth through education, community engagement, and preventive strategies.

The Frontier Health Youth Drug Prevention Project is designed to address the unique challenges faced by adolescents in the region. By focusing on primary prevention, the project aims to equip individuals, families, and communities with the knowledge and tools necessary to prevent drug use before it starts. The initiative encompasses various activities, including educational programs, community awareness campaigns, and evidence-based prevention techniques.

“In partnership with the schools, this project is designed to focus on addressing the opioid and drug epidemic at an age where children are most adaptable to influence, in first through eighth grades. The Evidence-Based Prevention Model that will be used is specifically geared to be implemented in a school setting to teach children the dangers of illicit drugs, effective coping mechanisms for peer pressure, and to foster a sense of self-value and belonging. The goal is to reduce the likelihood of illegal substance experimentation and future substance misuse and break the cycle of addiction that can have generational effects,” said Tim Perry, Sr. Vice President, TN Outpatient Services  

As Frontier Health embarks on this vital project, it underscores the organization’s dedication to creating a healthier, drug-free community and highlights the importance of collaborative efforts in tackling the opioid crisis.

Kristie Hammons, President and CEO of Frontier Health, said, “The Regional Recovery Ecosystem Advisory Council (RREAC), a regional group of diversified leaders, community members, and providers, designated this need as a priority for our region. This is a huge win for our region, with the goal of impacting the use and misuse of illegal substances and helping our young people learn new resiliency and coping skills that will assist in growing a healthier community.” 

Frontier Health is the region’s leading provider of behavioral health, mental health, substance abuse, co-occurring, intellectual and developmental disabilities, recovery and vocational rehabilitation services, and has been providing services since 1957. Its mission is to provide quality services that encourage people to achieve their full potential.